Sam Houston Coliseum

==Sports==
In 1946, permanent ice chillers were installed in the floor to accommodate an [[ice hockey]] rink for Houston's first pro ice hockey team – the [[Houston Skippers]] of the [[United States Hockey League (1945-51)|USHL]]. The Skippers changed their name the following season to the Houston Huskies and called the Coliseum home until their demise in 1949.

Prior to [[Hofheinz Pavilion]] being built (on the campus of the [[University of Houston]]), the [[Houston Cougars men's basketball|Houston Cougars]] played home games at the coliseum.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://grfx.cstv.com/photos/schools/hou/sports/m-baskbl/auto_pdf/09MBB_178_208.pdf |title=All-Time Results |publisher=Houston Cougars athletics |work=2008-09 Media Guide |access-date=2008-12-08}}</ref>

The venue also played host to the Houston Apollos, of the [[Central Hockey League|CPHL]], from 1965 to 1969; the [[Houston Aeros (WHA)|Houston Aeros]], of the [[World Hockey Association|WHA]], from 1972 to 1975 and the Houston Apollos of the [[Central Hockey League|CHL]], from 1979 to 1981. The Aeros moved to [[The Summit (Houston)|The Houston Summit]], which opened in November 1975 and played their final three seasons there.

The [[Houston Mavericks]], a charter member of the American Basketball Association, played their home games in the Coliseum. However, the Houston franchise was plagued by mismanagement and low attendance. In 1969, the team relocated and became the [[Carolina Cougars]]. The Mavericks drew less than 500 fans for most games; their final game in Houston drew just 89 fans.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.remembertheaba.com/Houston-Mavericks.html|title = Remember the ABA: Houston Mavericks}}</ref>

The Coliseum was also home to Houston Wrestling, run by legendary wrestling promoter [[Paul Boesch]]. In an event promoted by Boesch, Jack Brisco defeated Harley Race to win the [[National Wrestling Alliance World Heavyweight Championship]] at the Coliseum on July 20, 1973.
 
Before moving to the [[Astrodome]], it was the home of the [[Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo]].